5 ms·

Why do people always forget economics when expecting businesses to behave morally? Very simple: if the new efficiency technology is 1000000000x more expensive t

Why do people always forget economics when expecting businesses to behave morally? Very simple: if the new efficiency technology is 1000000000x more expensive than maintaining the current fleet.

minikites 5y ago
Are you saying corporations are acting immorally? I think we should impose more of society's morals onto corporations. If we are disgusted by selfish behavior in an individual, why are we not disgusted by a coordinated group of individuals showing the same behavior?
- hervature 5y ago
  No, I believe corporations try to maximize lifelong profits. Whatever morality is projected upon them. Sometimes this coincides with “societal morals” like Disney not using their characters for pornographic content for brand reasons. Also the major shift to electric vehicles which, in my opinion, was spurred by economic feasibility by technological progress and not anyone behaving in the interest of the planet (as much as they will market otherwise). Obviously, some companies do bad things in the interest of profits but they tend to die fast. I don’t think selfishness is the right word here. Are you disgusted when you go to a restaurant and somebody orders food for themselves? I think you mean “when they act selfish at my expense” which is in itself a selfish sentiment.
  - minikites 5y ago
    >I believe corporations try to maximize lifelong profits So any means are justified to produce these profits? We do restrict corporations from doing truly terrible things, so we already project some morality onto corporations. I'm saying we need to do more of that.
    - hervature 5y ago
      Again, businesses are simply legal entities. The individuals running them are still subject to laws. You can't have a company of mercenaries going around killing people because murder is illegal. I mean, you can, but if all your employees go to jail, your company doesn't last very long. Other than anti-trust legislation, can you provide an example where corporations have more restrictions than citizens? Distilleries, arms making, banking, every regulated industry is an industry a private citizen can't partake in.

Why do people always forget economics when expecting businesses to behave morally? Very simple: if the new efficiency technology is 1000000000x more expensive than maintaining the current fleet.

minikites 5y ago

Are you saying corporations are acting immorally? I think we should impose more of society's morals onto corporations. If we are disgusted by selfish behavior in an individual, why are we not disgusted by a coordinated group of individuals showing the same behavior?

hervature 5y ago
No, I believe corporations try to maximize lifelong profits. Whatever morality is projected upon them. Sometimes this coincides with “societal morals” like Disney not using their characters for pornographic content for brand reasons. Also the major shift to electric vehicles which, in my opinion, was spurred by economic feasibility by technological progress and not anyone behaving in the interest of the planet (as much as they will market otherwise). Obviously, some companies do bad things in the interest of profits but they tend to die fast. I don’t think selfishness is the right word here. Are you disgusted when you go to a restaurant and somebody orders food for themselves? I think you mean “when they act selfish at my expense” which is in itself a selfish sentiment.
- minikites 5y ago
  >I believe corporations try to maximize lifelong profits So any means are justified to produce these profits? We do restrict corporations from doing truly terrible things, so we already project some morality onto corporations. I'm saying we need to do more of that.
  - hervature 5y ago
    Again, businesses are simply legal entities. The individuals running them are still subject to laws. You can't have a company of mercenaries going around killing people because murder is illegal. I mean, you can, but if all your employees go to jail, your company doesn't last very long. Other than anti-trust legislation, can you provide an example where corporations have more restrictions than citizens? Distilleries, arms making, banking, every regulated industry is an industry a private citizen can't partake in.